New for 2020: Blackwater Firearms Sentry 12

by
posted on October 5, 2020
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
blackwater-firearms-sentry-12.jpg

Blackwater Firearms has announced it will offer a pump-action shotgun styled for the defense-minded consumer with tactical styling, lightweight engineering and a detachable box magazine for speedy reloading. The Sentry 12 is a compact, manually-operated 12-ga. shotgun with a two-part receiver and controls similar to those of the AR-15 design, which makes for an easy transition to the Blackwater Firearms scattergun.

The Sentry 12 houses an 18.5” barrel that is chambered for 3” shells and features a Nitride finish. Disassembly and reassembly of the system is fast—the barrel simply attaches to an extruded aluminum upper receiver via a hand-tightened barrel nut. A single pin retains the upper receiver in position attached to the lower unit of which houses the gun’s controls—a bilateral safety lever, trigger and pistol grip are included.

A notable feature of the Sentry 12 is the five-round detachable box magazine that fits within the lower receiver. The Sentry 12 ships with two magazines. Large magazine release buttons on both left and right sides are provided in a convenient position above and in front of the trigger shoe.

Weighing in at 6.5 lbs., the Sentry 12 has an overall length of 36”. A shortened buttstock is included and provides a 12’ length of pull measurement, which helps to retain its compact footprint and to accommodate tactical operators wearing bulky protective gear. A Picatinny rail along the top of the shotgun plays host to accessories such as lights, optics and iron sights.

Blackwater Firearms manufactures its Sentry 12 in the United States of America and commands a suggested retail price of $899. To learn more, visit the company website HERE.

Latest

Icarry Taurus TX9 Compact 1
Icarry Taurus TX9 Compact 1

I Carry: Taurus TX9 Compact in a Galco Holster

In our latest "I Carry" segment, we pair the new Taurus TX9 Compact with a leather Stow-N-Go holster from Galco, Inc. This compact, concealed-carry kit is rounded out with an Xolotl automatic knife produced by CRKT.

The Armed Citizen® March 13, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Canik USA MC9 Prime

Canik USA built out its concealed-carry handgun lineup with the MC9 Prime, which is a larger, yet still slim, CCW gun that sits in the same category as other upsized micro-compacts.

U.S. Army Awards Mossberg Contract for Additional 590A1 Pump-Action Shotguns

The U.S. Army has awarded O.F. Mossberg & Sons a contract for approximately $11.6 million dollars to supply the U.S. Army with additional Mossberg 590A1 pump-action shotguns.

250 Years of the U.S. Army: Bolt-Actions & Semi-Automatics on the Battlefield

In just a few decades, the U.S. Army would see itself go from a single-shot, blackpowder design in the form of the Trapdoor Springfield to a modern, semi-automatic fighting rifle in the M1 Garand.

Modernized & Economical Muzzleloaders: The CVA Optima XP & XP-SB

CVA's longest-lasting muzzleloader design, the Optima, has been updated in 2026 with "modern ergonomics and modularity."

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.